HOWZAT for a school lesson? Durham and Former England cricketer Graham Onions was at Neville’s Cross Primary School to join pupils for a game of cricket.

Throughout the day the youngsters enjoyed a range of cricket-themed activities, as well as getting the chance to catch up with the professional.

They were among thousands of pupils from across the country celebrating Brit Insurance National Cricket Day.

Across the country schools arranged cross-curricular cricket classes, break-time batting and bowling and inter-school tournaments at their local cricket club.

At Neville’s Cross pupils took part in cricket-themed lessons in class and enjoyed cricket coaching outside.

Graham said: “It’s great to go back to school and see the enthusiasm for cricket here. I remember how much I enjoyed learning the importance of teamwork, communication and sportsmanship when I took up the sport.”

The themed-activities were part a range of events helped to showcase the Chance to Shine campaign, run by the Cricket Foundation charity.

The charity helps link cricket clubs to local state schools and aims to bring cricket to two million children in a third of state schools by 2015.

Headteacher Hazel Bullock said: “The children have really been bowled over by their day of cricket.

“It’s a great team sport that can be played by boys and girls and also by children with mixed sporting ability. We were pleased to support Chance to Shine’s festival of cricket in schools.”

Graham added: “I’m delighted that Chance to Shine is doing such a great job of providing today’s youngsters with brilliant opportunities to learn and play cricket.”

Chance to Shine supported by Brit Insurance is the biggest grass-roots sport development programmes ever undertaken in Britain.

It was launched in 2005 to reverse the decline of cricket in state schools and has now brought cricket to over one million schoolchildren.

Stuart Bassett, combined commercial underwriter at Brit Insurance’s Darlington office, said: “I am delighted that Brit Insurance has chosen to support Chance to Shine to help them reach into classrooms and deliver cricket skills to children from all cultures and backgrounds.

“It makes sense to use our influence in the sport as the catalyst to make a positive difference in our local community”.